Vikings looking to put the squeeze on Bears quarterbacks

Unfortunately for the Steelers, the addition of wideout Plaxico Burress, who was without a team all season, doesn't offset the slew of injuries on offense. Ben Roethlisberger (shoulder, ribs), Antonio Brown (ankle), Jerricho Cotchery (ribs) and Byron Leftwich (ribs) have been sidelined, but Brown could return in Cleveland.

Fortunately for the Steelers, they have a trio of hefty running backs who have come through in Rashard Mendenhall, Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman.

The Browns blew a 13-0 lead in Dallas last Sunday, another sign of their inexperience. They do play hard for coach Pat Shurmur, who is trying to save his job.

Denver (7-3) at Kansas City (1-9)

The Broncos have won five straight and have their sights on running the table, perhaps grabbing home-field advantage for a portion of the AFC playoffs, if not for the whole thing. Peyton Manning needs one victory, something he's likely to get against the collapsing Chiefs who have dropped seven in a row, to have the second most by a starter in league history. He would move ahead of his current boss, John Elway.

Manning is directing a precise offense, but Denver lost leading rusher Willis McGahee to a right knee injury. The Broncos' defense is getting superb play from Von Miller, who had three sacks last week for 13 this year.

KC leads the NFL in turnovers with 31 and has a minus-21 differential. Denver's minus-3 pales in comparison.

Seattle (6-4) at Miami (4-6)

One game after beating his former player at Southern Cal, Jets QB Mark Sanchez, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll goes against one of his Heisman Trophy winners, Reggie Bush. Well, Bush did win the Heisman, but gave it back after he was found guilty of NCAA violations.

Seattle's defense gets better and more physical each week, something Bush figures to learn Sunday. Bush has totaled 41 yards rushing over the past two games, part of a three-game skid, and even was benched in that span.

Buffalo (4-6) at Indianapolis (6-4)

Were the Colts exposed at New England last Sunday in their 59-24 defeat, or was it simply a case of Indy not being able to play with the big boys yet?

"Once you sit down and watch the film, the critiquing and the criticism, and once that happens, you sort of flush it and realize it's on to the next one," Andrew Luck said. "If this was the last one of the season and you're done, it would sting a lot more."

Luck has five 300-yard passing games to set an NFL mark by a rookie. His 2,965 yards passing are the most by an NFL rookie through 10 games.

Buffalo's defense awakened in a 19-14 victory against Miami, but still ranks 27th overall.

Oakland (3-7) at Cincinnati (5-5)

With two consecutive victories, the Bengals have revitalized their season. A schedule that includes San Diego, Dallas and Philadelphia after the Raiders has them salivating about their chances of making the postseason. Receiver A. J. Green has TD catches in nine straight games.

Oakland, loser of three in a row, has former Bengals QB Carson Palmer, the first overall draft pick in 2003 who still holds Cincinnati marks for career completion percentage (62.9) and passer rating (86.9). It will be Palmer's first time facing the Bengals since he forced a trade to Oakland last year for a first-round and second-round pick.

Carolina (2-8) at Philadelphia (3-7), Monday night

No, the NFL can't flex games to the prime-time broadcast on Mondays, so viewers are stuck with two of the league's biggest flops.

Carolina thought it would build off Cam Newton's sensational rookie season, but instead of sizzling it has fizzled.

No worse than the Eagles, though. Expected to be championship contenders, they have fallen apart, with sloppy play everywhere, particularly on the offensive line, in the secondary and at quarterback, where rookie Nick Foles could again get the nod ahead of Michael Vick, who is recovering from a concussion.

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